Omer, Israel
Town in southern Israel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Omer (Hebrew: עומר, lit. 'Sheaf') is an affluent town in the Southern District of Israel, bordering Beersheba. It is located on Highway 60, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. In 2024 it had a population of 8,078.[1]
Omer
עומר | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | ʕomr |
| |
  Omer  Omer | |
| Coordinates: 31°15′51″N 34°50′49″E | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Southern |
| Sub-district | Beersheba |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Pini Badash |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.1 km2 (7.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
• Total | 8,078 |
| • Density | 402/km2 (1,040/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | Sheaf |
| Website | www.omer.muni.il |
History
Omer, originally known as Hevrona, was founded as a kibbutz in 1949. The early residents were demobilized Palmach soldiers. In 1951, it became a cooperative village known as Eilata. In 1953, it was re-established as a communal moshav by immigrants from Hungary and Romania and renamed Omer. The name is based on the offering of the first sheafs in Leviticus 23:10.[2]
In 1957, residents of the ma'abarot in the vicinity moved to Omer. In 1962, it was renamed Tomer and became a neighborhood of Beersheba. Since 1974, it has been an independent town and suburb of Beersheba.[2]
Pini Badash has served as mayor since 1990. Omer's jurisdiction is 20,126 dunams (~20.1 km²).
Controversy over property purchase by Arabs (2025)
In 2025, a controversy erupted following the purchase of a house in Omer by ʿAlāʾ Haniyeh, a Palestinian businessperson from the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva and the CEO of a plastics factory in Dimona over concerns of family relations with previous Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.[3] The transaction provoked fierce opposition from local Jewish residents, who wanted to preserve Omer as a Jewish-only settlement at any price.[4][5][6]
In residents’ WhatsApp groups and on social media, residents decried the deal as unacceptable after the events of 7 October 2023, reflecting openly hostile and racist attitudes, with statements opposing "transactions between Jews and Arabs" and expressing fears about changes to the "Jewish character" of the settlement.[7][8] The head of the Omer local council, Erez Badash reiterated the council’s policy of encouraging Jewish and military families to settle in the town.[9][10]
Economy
Omer is known for its high socio-economic ranking. It is one of four municipalities to score 10/10, along with Kfar Shmaryahu, Lehavim and Savyon.[11]
Notable residents
- Eviatar Banai (b. 1973), musician
- Orna Banai (b. 1966), actress and comedian
- Guy Barnea (b. 1987), Olympic swimmer
- Roni Dalumi (b. 1991), singer
- Mickey Edelstein (b. 1966), general
- Amir Ganiel (1963–2018), swimmer
- Imri Ganiel (b. 1992), Olympic swimmer
- Ziv Kalontarov (b. 1997), Olympic swimmer
- Shaul Ladany (b. 1936), world-record-holding Olympic racewalker, Bergen-Belsen survivor, Munich Massacre survivor, and Professor of Industrial Engineering